Tattooing needle assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved tattooing needle assembly and support assembly for the needle assembly are provided. The needle assembly includes a needle component extending through a main case into an aperture assembly. The needle component is configured to reciprocate between a stowed configuration, in which a tip of the needle component is positioned within the aperture assembly, and a deployed configuration, in which the tip extends beyond the aperture assembly. A tattooing machine causes the needle component to move to the deployed configuration while opposed magnets bias the needle component back towards the stowed configuration. Using a needle protection sleeve, the needle assembly can be removed from and/or installed onto a tattooing machine without requiring a user to come into direct contact with the needle assembly. By securing the needle protection sleeve to a support assembly, the removal and/or installation of the needle assembly becomes a one-hand operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/922,760, filed Oct. 26, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.10,449,346, which claims priority to Chinese utility model patentnumbers 201520396152.8, filed Jun. 10, 2015, and 201520395864.8, filedJun. 10, 2015, and Chinese design patent number 201530180483.3, filedJun. 5, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The inventive concept relates to an appliance for tattooing or applyingpermanent makeup. In particular, the inventive concept relates to atattooing needle assembly and a device for rapidly changing tattooingneedles.

BACKGROUND

A common tattooing device of the prior art consists of a tattooingmachine, a tattooing machine handle, an aperture assembly, and atattooing needle. A user needs to assemble the components before use.More specifically, the tattooing machine handle is connected to thetattooing machine with the first end of the tattooing needle penetratingthrough a center hole of the handle. The second end of the tattooingneedle (opposite the first end) is coupled to a reciprocating part ofthe tattooing machine such that the tattooing machine is capable ofreciprocating the tattooing needle while a user is holding the handle.The aperture assembly, which is connected to the handle or is integrallymanufactured with the handle, serves as support and guiding piece forthe tattooing needle while the tattooing machine drives the tattooingneedle to reciprocate. For the sake of safety, the tattooing needle isdisposable and disposable aperture assemblies and handles are alsocommonly used.

In the existing tattooing device, the tattooing needle and the apertureassembly are arranged in a separable manner. When an operator replacesthe tattooing needle, the components need to be re-assembled. Especiallywhile the tattooing needle is being inserted into the aperture assembly,the operator needs to be very careful so as to prevent damage to the tipend of the tattooing needle, such as occurs when the tip end of thetattooing needle is allowed to scratch the inner wall of the apertureassembly. In addition, in the tattooing process, the operator needs torepetitively replace the tattooing needle of different specificationsand select matched aperture assemblies of the correspondingspecifications according to the complex situation of tattoo patterns. Asa result, the existing separable design of the tattooing needle and theaperture assembly obviously causes the assembling operation to becomparatively time-consuming.

Chinese Patent Application No. CN200410062070.6, the entire disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a disposableassembly that is detachably arranged on a handle, wherein one end of atattooing needle is retained in a needle shaft and is supported so as tomove in a needle guiding piece formed in the disposable assembly, theother end of the tattooing needle extends through a needle-shaped spraynozzle opening to discharge pigment, a driving mechanism consists of aplurality of components and is connected to the needle shaft to enablethe tattooing needle to reciprocate, the plurality of components of thedriving mechanism comprise a driver and a connecting device, and theconnecting device connects a driving device to the needle shaft. Atleast one portion of the connecting device is arranged in the disposableassembly and can be detached together with the disposable assembly fromthe handle. Unfortunately, the disposable assembly has too many partsand the installation is not convenient. Furthermore, the existingtattooing needle assemblies do not facilitate the replacement of thetattooing needle assemblies in actual use. Furthermore still, thedisposable assemblies are traditional spring-back devices that utilizetension glue or a spring. Tension glue and transitional springs causeshaking and vibration, thereby creating noise and decreasing servicelife. Consequently, it would be beneficial to have a needle assemblythat utilizes fewer components, that is easier to use, that facilitatesreplacement, that reduces noise, that increases reliability, and thatrelieves strain.

Furthermore still, commercially available tattooing needle assemblies ofthe prior art are sealed and packaged in disposable blister packages.When a tattooist changes a needle during working, the used tattooingneedle assemblies are discarded. These used tattooing needle assemblies,which carry blood of tattooed people, are unsanitary. As a result, thediscarded tattooing needle assemblies must be handled with appropriatecare. Furthermore yet, removal and re-attachment of the needleassemblies requires two hands, one positioned on the tattooing machineand the other positioned on the needle assembly itself, furtherincreasing risks associated with the unsanitary needle assemblies.Consequently, it would be beneficial to reduce risks associated withunsanitary needle assemblies by providing a mechanism for holding theneedle assemblies so that they are not discarded in an unsanitary mannerand so that the tattooist is not required to make direct contact withthe needle assembly during removal and/or re-attachment of the needleassembly to the tattooing machine.

SUMMARY

The present inventive concept includes a tattooing needle assembly witha simplified structure. (Throughout this disclosure, reference totattooing needle assembly is not limited to the narrow definition oftattooing and explicitly includes any needle assembly used for applyingpermanent makeup, as well.) The number of parts are reduced and theassembling and disassembling are more simple and convenient to perform.In some embodiments, the novel structure design realizes the stablereciprocating motion of the tattooing needle, thereby reducing noisethus satisfying the technical requirements of facilitating thereplacement of the tattooing needle and relieving hand strain. In someembodiments, the present inventive concept also includes a supportassembly for holding needle assemblies when they are not in use, thesupport assembly being configured to assist users in quickly and safelychanging needle assemblies.

The tattooing needle assembly includes a main case with a proximal endand a distal end opposite one another. The proximal end of the main caseincludes an end cover with a through hole and the distal end of the maincase is selectively coupled to the aperture assembly. A tattooing needlecomponent is positioned partially within the main case, a first end ofthe needle component extending out the through hole of the end cover anda second end of the needle component extending into the apertureassembly. The proximal end of the main case of the needle assembly isconfigured to selectively connect with a tattooing machine so as toenable the tattooing machine to move the tattooing needle component froma stowed configuration, in which a tip of the needle component ispositioned within the aperture assembly, to a deployed configuration, inwhich the tip of the needle component extends from the apertureassembly.

In some embodiments, the needle assembly further includes an uppermagnetic ring coupled to the needle component and a lower magnetic ringcoupled to the main case such that the magnetic rings are configured tobias the needle component towards the stowed configuration. In this way,the magnetic rings and the tattooing machine work together to cause theneedle component to reciprocate between the stowed configuration and thedeployed configuration.

In some embodiments, the support assembly is sized and shaped tointerconnect with one or more needle assembly so as to accommodate auser rapidly changing tattooing needles. More specifically, the supportassembly is moveable between a locked configuration and an unlockedconfiguration. In the unlocked configuration, one or more needleprotection sleeve can be loaded into (or removed from) the supportassembly. In the locked configuration, the one or more needle protectionsleeve is secured to the support assembly and is prevented from rotatingrelative to the support assembly. Each needle protection sleeve includesclamp grooves that are configured to receive clamps of the needleassembly so as to prevent the needle assembly from rotating relative tothe needle protection sleeve, thereby preventing the needle assemblyfrom rotating relative to the support assembly. In this way, the supportassembly and needle protection sleeve assist a user in connecting aneedle assembly to and/or disconnecting the needle assembly from atattooing machine.

The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of thegeneral inventive concept and are not meant in a limiting sense. Manypossible embodiments of the general inventive concept may be made andwill be readily evident upon a study of the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings. Furthermore, various features andsubcombinations of general inventive concept may be employed withoutreference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects andadvantages of the general inventive concept will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the general inventive concept are set forth herein andare shown in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a needle assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a aperture assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a main case of the needle assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the needle assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a needle protection sleeve of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a needle assembly being supported by asupport assembly via a needle protection sleeve, the support assemblyshown in a locked configuration;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the needle assembly, support assembly,and needle protection sleeve of FIG. 6 shown from a slightly differentangle from FIG. 6, the support assembly shown in an unlockedconfiguration;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the support assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the support assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the needle protection sleeve of FIG.5;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the needle protection sleeve of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the needle protection sleeve of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description references the accompanying drawingsthat illustrate specific embodiments in which the general inventiveconcept can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describeaspects of the general inventive concept in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodimentscan be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scopeof the present invention. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a tattooing needle assembly 100 comprises a maincase 101, a tattooing needle component 102 positioned at least partiallywithin the main case 101, and an aperture assembly 103 selectivelycoupled to a distal end 105 of the main case 101. An opposed proximalend 106 of the main case 101 includes an end cover 104 that includes athrough hole and the aperture assembly 103 includes a tattooing needleguiding wall such that one end of the tattooing needle component 102 iscapable of extending from the proximal end 106 of the main case 101through the through hole while an opposed other end of the tattooingneedle component 102 extends from the distal end 105 of the main case101 into the aperture assembly 103, in close contact with the tattooingneedle guiding wall. A proximal end 109 of the aperture assembly 103 isconfigured to selectively couple to the distal end 105 of the main case101 and the proximal end 106 of the main case 101 is configured toselectively couple to a tattooing machine so as to enable the tattooingmachine to selectively drive a tip of the needle component out of adistal end of the aperture assembly 103.

In some embodiments, an outer circumferential surface of the main case101 includes a plurality of clamps 107 at or near the distal end 105 ofthe main case 101. In some such embodiments, the main case 101 includessix clamps 107, each being uniformly spaced along a circumferentialdirection. In other such embodiments, the aperture assembly 103 includesa plurality of clamp grooves 108 at or near the proximal end 109 of theaperture assembly 103, each clamp groove 108 of the aperture assembly103 being configured to receive a clamp 107 of the main case 101 so asto secure the aperture assembly 103 to the main case 101. In some suchembodiments, each clamp groove 108 corresponds, one-to-one, with asingle clamp 107. In still other embodiments, the proximal end 109 ofthe aperture assembly 103 defines a positioning groove 110 and thedistal end 105 of the main case 101 includes a positioning block that isconfigured to be received by the positioning groove 110 of the apertureassembly 103 so as to align the aperture assembly 103 with the main case101 and/or so as to prevent the aperture assembly 103 from rotatingrelative to the main case 101

In some embodiments, an outer side of a hollow cylinder of the proximalend 106 of the main case 101 includes a pair of fasteners 111 forselectively securing the tattooing needle assembly 100 to the tattooingmachine. In some such embodiments, the cross section of the fasteners111 form a rotationally symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis ofthe hollow cylinder, the rotationally symmetrical shape includes of twosemi-crescent shapes, each having an intersection point between a largeend portion of the semi-crescent shape and a circle formed by a crosssection of the hollow cylinder. In other such embodiments, the fasteners111 on the tattooing needle assembly 100 are connected with matchedclips and/or other fastening features on the tattooing machine, andthereby the tattooing needle assembly 100 can be fixedly connected ontothe tattooing machine with a 20 degree clockwise rotation and separatedfrom the tattooing machine with a 20 degree counter-clockwise rotation.

The tattooing needle component 102 comprises a tattooing needle and aconnecting device for connecting the tattooing needle with the main case101 in such a way so as to allow the tattooing needle to reciprocatewithin the through hole of the end cover 104. Throughout thisdisclosure, reference to a tattooing needle is not limited to needlesspecifically used for tattooing and explicitly includes any needle usedfor applying permanent makeup. As the tattooing needle reciprocates, itmoves between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. Inthe stowed configuration, a tip of the tattooing needle is positionedwithin the aperture assembly 103. In the deployed configuration, a tipof the tattooing needle extends out of the aperture assembly 103 so asto allow the tip of the tattooing needle to puncture skin. In someembodiments, the connecting device comprises an upper magnetic ring 114and a lower magnetic ring 115. In some such embodiments, a middleportion of an inner chamber of the main case 101 includes an integrallymolded support plate 116 that is configured to support and/or restrainthe lower magnetic ring 115 relative to the main case 101. The supportplate 116 includes a through hole that is generally coaxial with theinner chamber of the main case and/or the through hole of the end cover104 so as to allow a rod portion of the tattooing needle component 102to freely pass through the through hole of the support plate 116 whilethe needle component is reciprocating. In other such embodiments, amiddle portion of the tattooing needle component 102 includes a plunger117 that is configured to support and/or restrain the upper magneticring 114 relative to the tattooing needle component 102. In someembodiments, the plunger 117 is positioned between the upper magneticring 114 and the end cover 104 and the lower magnetic ring 115 ispositioned between the upper magnetic ring and the and the support plate116 such that the upper magnetic ring 114 is allowed to reciprocaterelative to the lower magnetic ring 115. In some such embodiments, thelower end of the upper magnetic ring 114 and the upper end of the lowermagnetic ring 115 are magnetic poles with the same polarity so as tobias the needle component 102 towards the stowed configuration.

In some embodiments, utilizing the mutual repulsive force of the twomagnetic rings to facilitate reciprocating the tattooing needle reducesnoises and other issues associated with prior art systems for and methodof reciprocating tattooing needles. In some such embodiments, this isaccomplished by reducing wear on the inner wall of the main case. Inother embodiments, such as during long work periods, lines of magneticforce from the magnetic rings permeate the user's hand, therebyperforming magneto therapy to the hand. In some embodiments, themagnetic rings are made of high intensity permanent magnets that arecapable of creating magnetic fields of 4800 gauss. In other embodiments,the magnetic fields are capable of permeating the human body by 6-9 cmand/or by a depth that is equivalent to the depth of traditionalacupuncture.

As well known, Magneto Therapy, i.e., so-called magnetic field therapyis called as a collective name of methods for treating diseases by usingmagnetic forces or magnetic fields, a part which needs to be treated isplaced in a variable magnetic field to attempt to exert an influence bymagnetism produced by the magnetic field on human body tissues and bonesso as to achieve a non-invasive treatment goal. Magneto Therapy canrealize the following functions: particularly remarkable painalleviation and anti-inflammation effects, and especially obvioustreatment effects to chronic diseases especially such as arthritis andstrain. As a result, in some such embodiments, the use of magnets toreciprocate the needle component reduces hand strain associated theoperator tightly holding the tattooing needle assembly while the needlecomponent is reciprocating.

In some embodiments, the tattooing needle assembly 100 is selectivelycoupled to a needle protection sleeve 112, as shown in FIG. 5, when theneedle assembly 100 is not in use. In some such embodiments, the needleprotection sleeve 112 includes a plurality of sleeve clamp grooves 113that are configured to receive the clamps 107 of the main case 101.

In some embodiments, the reduction of cost and/or ease of use isfacilitated by simplifying the structure of the tattooing needleassembly 100. In some such embodiments, this is accomplished, at leastin part, by providing the positioning groove 110 of the apertureassembly 103 and the positioning block of the main case 101. In otherembodiments, the clamps 107 of the main case 101 and the clamp grooves108 of the aperture assembly 103 enable the connection between theaperture assembly 103 and the main case 101 to be quickly realized. Instill other embodiments, the clamps 107 on the main case 101 prevent thetattooing needle assembly 100 from slipping from the hand when thetattooing needle assembly is manually replaced, thereby allowing thetattooing needle assembly to be quickly held for replacement. In yetother embodiments, the clamps 107 cooperate with other devices to fix orotherwise secure the tattooing needle assembly relative to otherdevices, such as a needle protection sleeve 112.

In some embodiments, automation is realized by securing the needleassembly 100 to a needle protection sleeve 112. In some suchembodiments, the needle of the tattooing needle component 102 iseffectively protected by fixedly clamping and/or otherwise securing theneedle assembly 100 with the needle protection sleeve 112. In other suchembodiments, securing the needle protection sleeve 112 to the needleassembly 100 facilitates easier, quicker, and safer operations ofconnecting the needle assembly 100 to the tattooing machine and/orremoving the needle assembly 100 from the tattooing machine.

In some embodiments, the upper magnetic ring 114 and/or the lowermagnetic ring 115 are magnetic rings of medical and healthcare grades,so as to have a natural force coming from the nature.

As shown in FIGS. 5-12, a system for rapidly changing tattooing needleassemblies 100 comprises a support assembly 201 having a push-pull, orlaterally-sliding, locking plate 204 positioned between upper 202 andlower 203 plates. The locking plate 204 is moveable between a lockedconfiguration and an unlocked configuration. When the locking plate 204is in the unlocked configuration, the support assembly 201 is configuredto receive at least one needle protection sleeve 112. When the lockingplate 204 is in the locked configuration, the support assembly 201 iscapable of supporting and/or otherwise restraining the needle protectionsleeve 112 while a tattooing needle assembly 100 positioned within theneedle protection sleeve 112 is being connected to and/or disconnectedfrom a tattooing machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper plate 202 includes a plurality ofclearance apertures 207 positioned in rows and the locking plate 204includes a plurality of corresponding locking apertures 208. In somesuch embodiments, each locking aperture 208 includes a first portionthat aligns with its respective first aperture 207 when the lockingplate 204 is in the unlocked configuration and a second portion thataligns with its respective first aperture 207 when the locking plate 204is in the locked configuration. In some such embodiments, each firstportion of each locking aperture 208 is approximately the same size andshape as its respective first aperture 207. In other such embodiments,each second portion of each locking aperture 208 has a generallyrectangular shape with a width that is smaller than the diameter of itsrespective first aperture 207.

In some embodiments, each needle protection sleeve 112 comprises a body209 and a base 210 extending from a bottom portion of the body 209. Thebase 210 includes a first portion having a smaller diameter than thebottom portion of the body 209 and a second portion having a largerdiameter than the first portion. In this way, the base 210 and the body209 form a spacing groove 211 between the bottom portion of the body 209and the second portion of the base 210. In some embodiments, the lockingplate 204 is configured to allow a second portion of a base 210 of aneedle protection sleeve 112 to pass through a first portion of alocking aperture 208 of the locking plate 204 when the locking plate 204is in the unlocked configuration. In other embodiments, a portion of thelocking plate 204 is configured to be received by a spacing groove 211of a needle protection sleeve 112 when the locking plate 204 is in thelocked configuration. In this way, the locking plate 204 is capable ofselectively securing the needle protection sleeve 112 to the supportassembly 201.

In some embodiments when the locking plate 204 is moved from theunlocked configuration to the locked configuration, a space formed byeach locking aperture 208 and its corresponding clearance aperture 207becomes smaller and spacing surfaces of the locking aperture 208 tightlyabut against the spacing groove 211 of the needle protection sleeve 112.

In some embodiments, the support assembly 201 includes a plurality oflegs 212, each leg positioned at one of four corners of the supportassembly 201 In some such embodiments, the legs 212 include magnets orsuction disks such that the support assembly 201 can be firmly fixed ona working table with the magnets or suction disks.

In some embodiments, the upper plate 202 defines three rows of clearanceapertures 207 with each row having 3-4 clearance apertures 207. In someembodiments, each clearance aperture 207 is round.

In some embodiments, the body 209 of the needle protection sleeve 112includes a plurality of ribs 213. In some such embodiments, the ribs 213are uniformly spaced along a circumferential direction. In a preferredembodiment, an outer surface of the ribs 213 contact an inner surface ofa corresponding clearance aperture 207.

In some embodiments, the cross section of the base 210 of the needleprotection sleeve 112 generally defines a circle with one side having aflat notch 214. In some such embodiments, the lower plate 203 includes afixing feature, such as a flat surface, that corresponds with the flatnotch 214 of the base 210 of the needle protection sleeve 112 such thatthe fixing feature of the lower plate 203 prevents the needle protectionsleeve 112 from rotating relative to the support assembly 201 when theflat notch 214 of the base 210 of the needle protection sleeve 112interfaces with the fixing feature of the lower plate 203 of the supportassembly 201 and/or by otherwise interfacing the base 210 of the needleprotection sleeve 112 with a fixing feature of the lower plate 203.

In some embodiments, the needle protection sleeves 112 are placedthrough the plurality of rows of clearance apertures 207 arranged on thesupport assembly 201 such that the clamping and extraction of the needleprotection sleeves 112 on and from the support assembly 201 isaccomplished by moving the locking plate 204 between locked and unlockedconfigurations. In some such embodiments, rotation of the needleprotection sleeves 112 is limited by the fixing features of the lowerplate 203. In some embodiments, the action of changing the tattooingneedle assemblies 100 is completed by rotating the tattooing machine fora certain angle. In some such embodiments, the ribs 213 on the outersides of the needle protection sleeves 112 are matched with theclearance apertures 207 so as to improve the stability of the needleprotection sleeves 112 on the support assembly 201, thereby preventinglarge shaking during the process of changing the tattooing needleassemblies 100.

The present invention is prospective, hygienic, practical and veryinnovative. For example, before making a work, the tattooist can select10 types of different tattooing needle assemblies 100 which will be usedand place the tattooing needle assemblies 100 each with correspondingneedle protection sleeves in the support assembly 201, and the legs 212,such as the suction disks or magnets, of the support assembly 201 can befirmly fixed on a glass table or an metal table. As a result, thetattooist only needs to stretch a single hand holding the tattooingmachine to the exposed tail end of the favored type of needle (within aneedle assembly) and then slightly clockwise twist the needle for 20degrees, then the needle assembly together with the tattooing machinecan be extracted from the needle protection sleeve within less than 5seconds in a non-contact manner. Later, when another type of needle isneeded, the original tattooing needle assembly is restored to theoriginal extracted needle protection sleeve, and slightly anticlockwiserotated for 20 degrees, then the needle assembly can be left in theneedle protection sleeve in a non-contact manner and is separated fromthe tattooing machine.

In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or“embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to areincluded in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separatereferences to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” inthis description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and arealso not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Forexample, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment mayalso be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinationsand/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

While the present general inventive concept has been shown in thedrawings and fully described above with particularity and detail inconnection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical andpreferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be madewithout departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein,including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape,form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use.

It is also to be understood that the following examples are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall there between. Hence, theproper scope of the present general inventive concept should bedetermined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended examplesso as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationshipsequivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in thespecification. It should also be understood that multiple combinationsof dependent examples are also cumulatively and independently disclosed.The following examples, which represent the text of the originalexamples as filed and are not limiting, demonstrate this concept. Thelimitations of example 2 are disclosed in combination with examples3-10; the limitations of example 3 are disclosed in combination withexamples 4-10; the limitations of example 4 are disclosed in combinationwith examples 5-10; the limitations of example 5 are disclosed incombination with examples 6-10; the limitations of example 6 aredisclosed in combination with examples 7-10; the limitations of example7 are disclosed in combination with examples 8-10; the limitations ofexample 8 are disclosed in combination with example 9; the limitationsof example 9 are disclosed in combination with example 10; and thelimitations of example 11 are disclosed in combination with examples12-16. Independent examples 17 and 19 are also disclosed in combinationwith each other and their respective dependent examples.

Example 1

A tattooing needle assembly, comprising:

-   -   a main case, the main case having a proximal end and a distal        end opposite the proximal end;    -   a tattooing needle component having a proximal end and a distal        end opposite the proximal end, the tattooing needle component        arranged at least partially within the main case; and    -   an aperture assembly having a proximal end and a distal end        opposite the proximal end;    -   wherein the distal end of the main case is connected with the        proximal end of the aperture assembly;    -   wherein the proximal end of the main case is connected with an        end cover;    -   wherein the end cover is provided with a through hole;    -   wherein the distal end of the aperture assembly is provided with        a tattooing needle guiding wall;    -   wherein the proximal end of the tattooing needle component        extends through the main case and through the through hole of        the end cover;    -   wherein the distal end of the tattooing needle component is in        close contact with the tattooing needle guiding wall and extends        through the aperture assembly.

Example 2

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 1, wherein the maincase includes an outer circumferential surface that is provided with atleast two clamps uniformly spaced along a circumferential direction;

-   -   wherein the aperture assembly includes an outer circumferential        surface, the aperture assembly outer circumferential surface is        provided with at least two clamp outer grooves, each clamp outer        groove corresponding to one of said clamps included on the main        case.

Example 3

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 1, wherein the distalend of the main case includes a positioning block and the proximal endof the aperture assembly includes a positioning groove.

Example 4

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 1, wherein at leasttwo cylindrical fasteners connect the main case to a tattooing machine;wherein a cross section along an axial direction of the main caseincluding said fasteners is a rotationally symmetrical shape, whichincludes semi-crescent shapes in rotational symmetry about alongitudinal axis of the main case.

Example 5

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 1, wherein saidtattooing needle component comprises a tattooing needle and a connectingdevice for coupling said tattooing needle component to said main casewhile allowing said tattooing needle component to reciprocate relativeto said main case.

Example 6

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 2, wherein saidtattooing needle assembly is sized and shaped to be sheathed at leastpartially within a needle protection sleeve, wherein said needleprotection sleeve is provided with at least two clamp inner grooves, andwherein each clamp inner groove is sized, shaped and configured tocouple with said clamps included on said main case.

Example 7

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 5, wherein saidconnecting device comprises an upper magnetic ring and a lower magneticring arranged within the main case;

-   -   wherein a lower end of the upper magnetic ring and an upper end        of the lower magnetic ring are magnetic poles with the same        polarity, and the upper magnetic ring is suspended above the        lower magnetic ring;    -   wherein a middle portion of an inner chamber of the main case is        provided with an integrally molded support plate, the support        plate is provided with a through hole coaxial with the inner        chamber of the main case;    -   wherein the support plate through hole is configured to allow a        tattooing needle rod to freely pass through;    -   wherein a middle portion of the tattooing needle rod is provided        with a support component such that the upper magnetic ring and        the end cover surround two sides of the support component, the        lower magnetic ring and support plate surround a lower portion        of the needle rod, and the main case inner chamber located        between the end cover and the support plate is sized and shaped        to allow the upper magnetic ring and the lower magnetic ring to        reciprocate along an axis.

Example 8

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 1, wherein a magneticfield is used to create a reciprocating motion of the tattooing needlecomponent.

Example 9

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 1, further comprisingat least two magnets within the main case, sized, shaped and configuredto assist generation of a reciprocating motion of the tattooing needlecomponent when the main case is operably connected with a tattooingmachine.

Example 10

The tattooing needle assembly according to Example 8, wherein the atleast two magnets are toroid shaped.

Example 11

A support assembly device for rapidly changing tattooing needlescomprising:

-   -   a partially enclosed needle holder with an opening at one end;    -   a laterally-sliding locking plate sized and shaped to mate with        the needle holder, the locking plate being positioned between an        upper clamping plate and a lower clamping plate; and    -   a needle protection sleeve;    -   wherein the upper clamping plate is provided with a plurality of        holes;    -   wherein the locking plate is provided with a plurality of        locking holes corresponding with the upper clamping plate holes,        the locking plate holes each having a width smaller than a width        of the upper clamping plate holes;    -   wherein the needle protection sleeve is sized and shaped to        couple with the upper clamping plate holes, each needle        protection sleeve comprises a sleeve body and a sleeve base, a        bottom portion of the sleeve body is connected with the sleeve        base, a spacing groove is between the sleeve body and the sleeve        base;    -   wherein the locking plate is sized and shaped to couple with the        spacing groove to tightly lock and fix the needle protection        sleeve on the needle holder;    -   wherein the lower clamping plate is provided with a plurality of        lower plate holes corresponding with the upper clamping plate        holes, the lower plate holes sized and shaped to match with the        sleeve base.

Example 12

The support assembly device according to Example 11, wherein saidlocking plate is configured to engage with the spacing groove of theneedle protection sleeve such that when the locking plate is in anunlocked position, the holes of the upper plate and the holes of thelocking plate align and the locking plate is disengaged with the spacinggroove of the needle protection sleeve, and when the locking plate is ina locked position, the locking plate engages with the spacing groove ofthe needle protection sleeve.

Example 13

The support assembly device according to Example 11, further comprisingneedle holder legs that are arranged at each of four corners of thesupporting assembly device.

Example 14

The support assembly device according to Example 11, wherein the upperplate is provided with three rows of at least three holes per row.

Example 15

The support assembly device according to Example 11, wherein an outerside of the body of said needle protection sleeve is provided with ribsuniformly spaced along a circumferential direction, and an outer sidesurface of the ribs is in contact with an inner side surface of acorresponding upper plate hole.

Example 16

The support assembly device according to Example 11, wherein a crosssection of the base is generally shaped as a circle with a flat notch,and a flat surface corresponding to the flat notch is sized and shapedto mate with a positioning surface on the lower clamping plate.

Example 17

A method of installing a tattooing needle assembly to a tattooingmachine, the method comprising:

-   -   positioning a needle protection sleeve over a needle assembly        such that the needle assembly is prevented from rotating        relative to the needle protection sleeve;    -   positioning the tattooing machine in close proximity to the        needle assembly such that a proximal end of the needle assembly        can be received by the tattooing machine; and    -   rotating the needle protection sleeve relative to the tattooing        machine, thereby causing the needle assembly to rotate relative        to the tattooing machine, until the needle assembly is locked        onto the tattooing machine.

Example 18

The method according to Example 17, wherein the needle protection sleeveis secured to a support assembly device such that installing the needleassembly onto the tattooing machine can be accomplished with one hand.

Example 19

A method of removing a tattooing needle assembly from a tattooingmachine, the method comprising:

-   -   positioning a needle protection sleeve over a needle assembly        such that the needle assembly is prevented from rotating        relative to the needle protection sleeve;    -   rotating the needle protection sleeve relative to the tattooing        machine, thereby causing the needle assembly to rotate relative        to the tattooing machine, until the needle assembly is unlocked        from the tattooing machine; and    -   separating the tattooing machine from the needle assembly while        the needle protection sleeve is still positioned over the needle        assembly.

Example 20

The method according to Example 19, wherein the needle protection sleeveis secured to a support assembly device such that removal of the needleassembly from the tattooing machine can be accomplished with one hand.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed Abstractis to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the publicgenerally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners inthe art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology,to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence ofthe technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstractis neither intended to define the invention or the application, whichonly is measured by the examples, nor is it intended to be limiting asto the scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support system for rapidly changing tattooingneedle assemblies, the support system comprising: a first support sleeveconfigured for selective engagement with a first tattooing needleassembly, thereby moving the first tattooing needle assembly to asheathed configuration; and a support assembly configured for selectiveengagement the first support sleeve when the first tattooing needleassembly is in the sheathed configuration, thereby moving the firsttattooing needle assembly to a secured configuration so as to facilitatemoving the first tattooing needle assembly in and out of engagement atattooing machine.
 2. The support system of claim 1, wherein said firstsupport sleeve defines a main body for selectively sheathing thetattooing needle assembly and a base displaced from said main body suchthat said first support sleeve defines a spacing groove.
 3. The supportsystem of claim 2, wherein said support assembly comprises a lockingplate slidably movable into and out of engagement with said spacinggroove of said first support sleeve, thereby moving the support systembetween a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration,respectively, wherein said first support sleeve is locked in positionrelative to said support assembly when the support system is in thelocked configuration.
 4. The support system of claim 3, wherein saidsupport assembly comprises an upper plate defining a first upperaperture, and wherein said locking plate defines a corresponding firstlocking aperture, each of said first upper aperture and said firstlocking aperture being configured such that said base of said firstsupport sleeve is allowed to pass through each when the support systemis in the unlocked configuration.
 5. The support system of claim 4,wherein said base of said first support sleeve is inhibited from movingthrough said first locking aperture of said support assembly when thesupport system is in the locked configuration.
 6. The support system ofclaim 5, wherein said first upper aperture is configured to engage withsaid main body of said first support sleeve when the support system isin the locked configuration.
 7. The support system of claim 6, whereinsaid support assembly further comprises a lower plate, said lockingplate being positioned between said upper and lower plates.
 8. Thesupport system of claim 7, wherein said lower plate defines a firstlower aperture, said first lower aperture being configured to engagewith said base when the support system is in the locked configuration.9. The support system of claim 4, wherein said support assembly furthercomprises a lower plate, said locking plate being positioned betweensaid upper and lower plates, and wherein said lower plate defines afirst lower aperture, said first lower aperture being configured toengage with said base when the support system is in the lockedconfiguration.
 10. A method changing tattooing needle assemblies, themethod comprising: positioning a first needle protection sleeve over afirst needle assembly such that the first needle assembly is preventedfrom rotating relative to the first needle protection sleeve; rotatingat least one of the first needle protection sleeve and a tattooingmachine, thereby causing the first needle assembly to rotate relative tothe tattooing machine until the first needle assembly is unlocked fromthe tattooing machine; and separating the tattooing machine from thefirst needle assembly while the first needle protection sleeve is stillpositioned over the first needle assembly.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the first needle protection sleeve is secured to a supportassembly device such that unlocking the first needle assembly from thetattooing machine can be accomplished with one hand.
 12. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising positioning a second needle protectionsleeve over a second needle assembly such that the second needleassembly is prevented from rotating relative to the second needleprotection sleeve; rotating at least one of the second needle protectionsleeve and the tattooing machine until the second needle assembly islocked onto the tattooing machine.
 13. The method according to claim 12,wherein the first and second needle protection sleeves are each securedto a support assembly device such that respective rotating steps can beaccomplished with one hand.
 14. A tattooing needle assembly, comprising:a main case; a tattooing needle component arranged at least partiallywithin said main case; and an aperture assembly coupled to said apertureassembly.
 15. The tattooing needle assembly of claim 14, wherein saidmain case comprises a clamp, and wherein said aperture assembly definesan outer groove, said outer groove of said aperture assembly beingconfigured to receive a first portion of said clamp of said main case,thereby moving the tattooing needle assembly to an assembledconfiguration.
 16. The tattooing needle assembly of claim 15, furthercomprising a sleeve defining a clamp inner groove, said clamp innergroove of said sleeve being configured to selectively receive a secondportion of said clamp of said main case, thereby moving the tattooingneedle assembly to a stowed configuration.
 17. The tattooing needleassembly of claim 14, wherein said main case comprises a positioningblock, and wherein said aperture assembly comprises a positioninggroove, said positioning groove of said aperture assembly beingconfigured to receive said positioning block of said main case when saidtattooing needle assembly is in an assembled configuration.
 18. Thetattooing needle assembly of claim 14, wherein said main case comprisesa cylindrical fastener, said cylindrical fastener of said main casebeing configured for selectively coupling said main case to a tattooingmachine.
 19. The tattooing needle assembly of claim 14, furthercomprising: a first magnet coupled to said tattooing needle component;and a second magnet secured relative to said main case, wherein saidfirst and second magnets are positioned and oriented relative to eachother such that a resultant magnetic field generates a first biasingforce for biasing said tattooing needle component towards a stowedconfiguration.
 20. The tattooing needle assembly of claim 19, wherein anopposed second biasing force is used to bias the tattooing needlecomponent towards a deployed configuration, and wherein the secondbiasing force intermittently overcomes the first biasing force so as tocreate a reciprocating motion of the tattooing needle component.